Crews will begin work on bridge decks as soon as closure begins
Team Kentucky is investing in a better Interstate 65 in Louisville by advancing critical infrastructure improvements with a planned temporary closure of a five-mile section of I-65. Two weeks from today, on Monday, June 1, I-65 will close between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street). It’s expected to reopen on Saturday, Aug. 1. The closure will allow contract crews to accelerate the replacement of three key bridges.
A two-mile section of southbound I-65 is expected to reopen to two lanes of traffic by Wednesday, July 1. It stretches from University Boulevard to the Watterson Expressway (I-264). Reopening this section of roadway will reopen four ramps: Crittenden Drive on and off ramps and the on-ramps from Eastern Parkway and University Boulevard to southbound I-65.
Materials Assembled; Pre-Closure Activities Nearly Complete
Crews have assembled and prefabricated materials to ensure crews are ready to begin work immediately after the closure begins. There are three laydown yards in Louisville: near Crittenden Drive, at Preston and Burnett streets and at Preston and College streets. Steel beams for the first three bridges are being stored at the sites. Those beams are up to 140 feet long and weigh up to 50,000 pounds. More than 70 beams are assembled.
Other materials at the site include steel cross frames, bridge bearings, precast deck panels, H-piles, rebar and specialized equipment needed for bridge erection.
I-65 bridges over Kentucky Street/Brook Street, Hill Street/CSX Railroad/Burnett Avenue, and Bradley Avenue near the fairgrounds are at the end of their service life and are being replaced. Crews will make significant progress during the closure, demolishing and rebuilding part of the new deck and superstructure of each bridge. Accelerated work during the closure will save at least a year of additional restrictions and delays on I-65.
Construction Continues After Interstate Closure
Construction on the I-65 Central Corridor will continue through the end of 2027. Local street closures and ramp closures will also be needed to complete the work on the corridor. Here’s a complete list of street closures and ramp closures expected in 2026 to accommodate construction. Information on each closure will be shared closer to date. Close coordination is underway with the emergency officials and hospitals in downtown Louisville to ensure access is maintained throughout construction.
A total of nine bridges on the I-65 corridor are being replaced or rehabilitated as part of the project. The first three bridges are those most in need of repair. The five-mile section of I-65 and the three bridges being replaced will reopen to two lanes of traffic in each direction when the closure ends in August.
Construction on the first three new bridges is expected to be complete in March 2027. The additional six bridges are the I-65 bridges over Liberty Street, Floyd Street, Chestnut Street, Jacob Street/Broadway/Gray Street, Muhammad Ali Boulevard/Brook Street, and the Muhammad Ali Boulevard on-ramp. The approach and schedule for those improvements are being finalized.
Substantial completion of the project is expected in late 2027. Contract crews are doing as much work as possible in advance of closing the interstate. Since last September, they’ve been constructing the substructures (foundations) of the three new bridges. This work below the deck of the bridges is more than 95% complete.
Getting Around During the Closure
During the closure, through traffic will be detoured to I-264 (Georgia Davis Powers Expressway) on the west side of Louisville. This signed detour route has the most available capacity and creates the least traffic impacts. Some ramps to and from I-264 (Watterson Expressway) are being temporarily widened to help accommodate additional traffic during the closure.
The detour is the signed alternate interstate route taking through traffic around the closure to minimize impacts to local traffic. Local detours are not signed because of the many different beginning and end points. Mapping apps, including Waze which has a partnership with KYTC, will guide drivers along the most efficient route at the time of travel.
Traffic accessing downtown Louisville will use the Jefferson Street exit from southbound I-65. Traffic will also be able to access downtown Louisville via I-64. Traffic leaving downtown will use the ramp from East Liberty Street to access northbound I-65, and the I-64 ramps will also be an option for drivers (Third Street and Ninth Street ramps).
Staying Informed
Project information and updates can be found at I65CentralCorridor.com. While on the site, users can sign up to have project and traffic updates delivered to their inboxes or by text to their phones. Project updates are shared on KYTC District 5 (D5) Facebook and X pages.